Chester

Here ya go daddy - pictures of Chester.

The kids loaded up and took off to the farm with Chester this morning.  They spent several hours up there today just playing around and building forts.

 They were all tired, exhausted and hungry when they got home.

Christmas 2013

Steve and I have compromised on family traditions - we open Higgins presents (Nana and Papa's) on Christmas Eve, and everything else on Christmas morning.  Maybe once Nana and Papa are here I can convince him that if we really respected our elders we would go with their traditions and go back to opening presents on Christmas Eve and stockings on Christmas morning. 

Anyways, we have kept the Higgins tradition, we read the Christmas story before opening gifts. Since the kids are now all old enough to read (and i can't remember who did it last year or the year before) we decided to start something new... 

Kyler read Samuel the Lamanite on Christmas Eve.

Jake read the Birth of Jesus Christ

Followed by MaKenna reading about the Signs of Christ's Birth

Christmas Morning was full of chaos and fun.  The kids were very good - they didn't get up until it was "in the 6's".  6:02 AM to be exact.  They did their chores (dogs and chickens) and helped me get the monkey bread in the oven. Once that was done, we sat down, read and started opening.  I think it was a pretty successful time.  They each seem to have gotten the thing they have "always wanted".

Here is the yearly picture by the Christmas tree.

"Just add some sass"

Audrey (Hair stylist):  Hi MaKenna, how are you? What are we going to do today?"
MaKenna: I want a bob!
Audrey: No, I don't think you do.
MaKenna: OK, just add some sass to it then."

When you add sass to MaKenna - this is what you get:

Here is a before and after picture of her new haircut.  She has typically always had a strait cut. This time we went with layers - she LOVES it.

Before

After

A couple more...

Nov / Dec 2013

Well, Thanksgiving came and went... before I could blink it was Christmas Eve.

For Thanksgiving - the kids and I baked - baked - and baked. We made lots of rolls, pies, cookies, salads, etc.  We have a great time with friends on Thursday and then had a low key family Thanksgiving on Friday (after shopping of course).

MaKenna was not impressed with "Lard" in the pie crusts

Kyler making salad

I refuse to do much towards Christmas until after Thanksgiving.  Usually that is not a problem - this year however, things were all squished together and I was running behind.  We did manage to get a couple packages sent.  (If you are wondering about Christmas cards - Maybe Valentine's Day)

Life moves fast - next year I will try to keep up, but for now, please enjoy the December recap in photos. (Christmas post and pics coming tomorrow...)

Frozen Big T river

Kyler and Chester

MaKenna - Choir Concert

Sea Container - Storage 

Surprise Snow - 3.5 inches!

New Chicken Coop for the Farm

Last Supper

OK, it's not really Jake's "Last Supper", but it might feel that way for awhile. 

Today, Jake got braces!  His mouth is a little sore from being opened for two hours and being worked on, so tonight's dinner will be soup.  a few of his restrictions are: no chips, no popcorn, no rice crispy treats, nothing hard, nothing chewy, ooey or gooey, no soda or sugary drinks.  (I think I need the braces diet.)  He can have ice cream and frozen yogurt as often as he wants.

Before

After:

Yes, they are green and yellow bands.  His sister was a bit disappointed that he didn't listen to her and get pink and purple.

PS - Kyler finally lost his 1st tooth.  I know that he is 7 1/2 and just lost his 1st tooth - he told me 50 times he is 7 1/2 and its about time...

Halloween 2013

I just did a catch up post and now I'm behind again.  We'll here is the 1st of several to come in the next week.
 
I have found that as the kids get older, getting pictures is harder and harder.  This year, we kind of get what we get.  I can't pick the best because frankly, I don't have many to choose from.

 
Jake stuck with his old stand by costume - Rodeo Bull Fighter. 
 
Kyler had a harder time trying to decide.  A Cowboy, a Bull Fighter, Papa, someone who hunts alligators (Swamp People might be the name of the show?), football player, the list continues.  When I told him trick or treating barefoot and in overalls without a t-shirt was out - he decided an alligator hunter wasn't for him.  He ultimately decided that twin Bull Fighters would be cool.

MaKenna was Snow White.  No! Not a Disney Snow White! She wanted to be a very specific Snow White... ya know, the one from the movie Snow White and the Huntsman (which she has never seen). Her good friend at school was the Evil Queen.  I don't have a picture of MaKenna with her costume and black wig on or a picture of her and her friend. (Alexa's mom has one, so maybe I can have her send it to me.)

This year was a "rush", similar to past years - rush to parties at school, rush to HP to trick or treat, rush home to eat and trick or treat, rush to bed.

We went to a Halloween party on Saturday, so MaKenna and Kyler decorated cupcakes.

What every baby boy needs...

A friend at work just had a baby (no, not the friend that just got married).  They had a baby shower for her at work the other day.  I was trying to come up with something different and special.  I found something cool online and "thought" I could do it.

Now, generally, when I copy something clever or neat it just doesn't turn out as well as the original.  This happens even with recipes - they are good, but not picture perfect (for example Laurie's Blackberry pie).

I will say though that this time, I surprised myself. I'm quite pleased with how this ATV turned out.